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Palmyra recapture an 'important achievement,' says Syria's Assad

The Syrian president has confirmed reports that government forces seized the UNESCO world heritage site Palmyra. The military said the "Islamic State" militant group "has been dealt quite a severe blow."

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday hailed the recapture of Palmyra from the "Islamic State" militant group as a success in the global fight against terrorism.

"The liberation of the historic city of Palmyra today is an important achievement and another indication of the success of the strategy pursued by the Syrian army and its allies in the war against terrorism," Assad told a French delegation in Damascus, Reuters news agency reported, citing comments aired on state television.

Assad's comments come after Syria's military command announced early Sunday that Palmyra was "under the army's full control," reported the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).

The "Islamic State" militant group "has been dealt quite a severe blow," the military added in a statement.

Moscow, a key supporter of the Assad government, announced Russian warplanes had conducted 40 sorties against 158 targets in an operation to regain control of the city.

In May 2015, Syrian troops withdrew from Palmyra, effectively paving the way for the "Islamic State" group to capture it days after seizing the Iraqi city of Ramadi. Militants destroyed several ancient artifacts after occupying the city in what UNESCO described as "war crimes."

Since seizing Mosul in Iraq in mid-2014, the "IS" group has occupied large swathes of land in Syria and Iraq, and claimed responsibility for multiple attacks in European capitals.

Palmyra: Destruction of an oasis of cultural history

Ancient temple destroyed

This part of the World Heritage site in the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria no longer exists: "Islamic State" militants have blown up the 2,000-year-old temple of Baal Shamin. The inner area of the temple and the columns collapsed through the explosion. The rest of the ancient city remains strongly at risk.

Palmyra: Destruction of an oasis of cultural history

Ruins in a desert oasis

The ruins of Palmyra lie right in the middle of the Syrian desert. The once prosperous metropolis was surrounded by palms - hence its name - and for centuries was a stop for caravans traveling to the Silk Road. The settlement was a center of wealth and trade. But, gradually, the golden age faded, and sand blew over the city. The ruins were later excavated, and given World Heritage status in 1980.

Palmyra: Destruction of an oasis of cultural history

Temple of Baal

In the 1st century AD, the Palmyrenes built a grand Roman-style temple for the deity Baal. It formed the center of religious life in Palmyra, which joined the Roman Empire under Emperor Tiberius some time after 14 AD. It is scarred with bullet holes - stark reminders of the ongoing Syrian civil war.

Palmyra: Destruction of an oasis of cultural history

Avenue of treasures

Created in the 2nd century, the Great Colonnade stretches on for more than a kilometer (0.6 miles). Spices, perfumes, precious stones and other treasures once passed down this magnificent colonnaded boulevard. The avenue's entrance is marked by Hadrian's Arch, built in honor of the Roman Emperor Hadrian. It's a fine example of the Greco-Roman style, extremely popular at the time.

Palmyra: Destruction of an oasis of cultural history

Roman monument

The Tetrapylon of Palmyra was built on a crossroads. The four groups of slender pillars, each supporting an alcove, were made of red granite brought in from the quarries of Aswan. Each one used to house statues. Today, almost all the columns are replicas. Only one is an original.

Palmyra: Destruction of an oasis of cultural history

Oriental drama

Palmyra bore many characteristics of a Greco-Roman city. It had a portico, thermal baths and an amphitheater. Many oriental dramas were performed on this stage. Unfortunately, the plays, written in Aramaic, haven't survived. In addition to being a theater, the arena was also used for battles between gladiators and animals.

Palmyra: Destruction of an oasis of cultural history

Forum of high society

Some 200 statues of important individuals once stood here, taking up honored positions in the porticoes of the agora, or main square. In the agora's southwestern corner the remains of a building where the city council likely held its meetings can be seen. The council was made up of representatives from influential merchant families, responsible for shaping the fortunes of the desert city.

Palmyra: Destruction of an oasis of cultural history

Ornate burial

There are a number of burial grounds just outside the city gates. Large families built tall towers housing ornate sarcophagi and tombs big enough for several generations. There are also many underground gravesites decorated with rich architectural flourishes and frescoes that hint at the daily life and wealth of that period.

Palmyra: Destruction of an oasis of cultural history

Impending destruction?

In 300 AD, Palmyra became a military base, and came under the power of a string of different rulers. The golden age faded, and the city's splendor was covered up by the desert sand. The city's ruins survived the civil war raging in the country since 2011, but now, the ancient city is under threat from "Islamic State" militants, and UNESCO fears it could face a tragic fate.